The forgotten Yarmouk Refugee Camp

Yarmouk Refugee Camp was forgotten by the PLO, or what is now called the Palestinian Authority, even before it was forgotten by the international community. It has been besieged by Bashar Al-Assad’s brutal army for over two years and government troops have finally allowed ISIS to enter the camp in order to eliminate the remaining inhabitants. Most had already fled after they were suffocated by Al-Assad’s militias; according to the latest reports, only 10,000 mainly Palestinians remain inside Yarmouk.

The reports surfaced after forces loyal to Al-Assad dropped explosive barrel bombs on the Palestinian inhabitants of the camp while the world turned a blind eye and took no action to prevent the ongoing slaughter or protect the helpless, unarmed civilians. Instead, the “international community” has been content to stand by and watch, as if conspiring with Al-Assad in the annihilation of Yarmouk, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Syria and the symbol of the forced displacement of the Palestinians from their homeland. It is also a symbol of their insistence on returning to their land. As house keys are passed from generation to generation, it is the fulfilment of the promise made by the first wave of refugees forced to leave Palestine, the apple of their eye. They took their keys with them as a constant reminder of their right of return, and sons and grandsons have inherited both the keys and the right, and they will wait until the day that God wills for them to return to their homeland of Palestine.

With every passing day, Al-Assad’s regime, which claims it is resisting and opposing Israel, proves that it is Israel’s loyal ally and is in power to serve and protect Israeli interests. In this the Syrian president is following in the footsteps of his father, Hafez Al-Assad, who went with his army to Lebanon in the late seventies to fight the Palestinians in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp. He then went on to the other refugee camps to murder other displaced Palestinians, the tragedy which ended with the Sabra and Shatila massacre committed by Sharon, his Zionist forces, and Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese troops at the time. The ships were waiting at sea to carry the displaced Palestinians into the Diaspora and turn the page on the right of return so that it would be taken from their hands and they will no longer be able to demand to go back home.

We are now witnessing Bashar repeating his father’s infamy by fighting the Palestinians in the refugee camps to force them to flee, while the ships continue to wait at sea. As for those who will be stubborn, resist oppression and insist on remaining, the camp will be brought down upon their heads.

Meanwhile, the world stands by silently and idly, waiting for the violent Bashar Al-Assad to complete the task given to him by Israel. What is most saddening and heart-breaking about the whole situation is that a Palestinian movement which claim to resist the Zionist enemy, such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, is actually loyal to Al-Assad’s regime, having been created by him. The PFLP supports the regime and helps it to besiege and kill their countrymen, women and children. This is shameful, disgraceful and sickening.

May God protect the people of Yarmouk; be patient, persevere and defend your camp. Do not leave it; preserve your keys, for He will not let you down.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.